February 6, 2026
Overview
- The Realtor.com® economics team video update gives you the relevant economic and real estate information you need to know each week every Friday to navigate the housing market as a homebuyer, home seller, or industry professional.
- For the week ending February 6, Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale discusses the recent government shutdown and what it means for data. Danielle shares the latest on the President’s nominee for Fed chair, what we saw in the latest mortgage rate data, and how that could impact spring homebuying. She highlights positive news for homeownership and Realtor.com data pointing to more homes for sale even as inventory momentum wanes. Danielle also reviews the latest weekly housing data and what they signal for the upcoming existing home sales report. Next, she shares how rent and policy interact in New York to limit mobility according to the latest Realtor.com New York City Rental Report.
- Finally, Danielle points to two luxury market comparisons with surprising findings. The first is a look at Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, while the second report examines high-end real estate in Super Bowl contenders Seattle and Boston, just in time for the big game.
- Find all the details including full reports and our housing data for download at realtor.com/research. You can also follow us on X (formerly twitter) for real time updates. And instagram @realtordotcomecon for graphics.
Reports and articles referenced
- Realtor.com 2025-Q4 NYC Rent Report
https://www.realtor.com/research/nyc-q4-2025/ - Realtor.com January 2026 Housing Trends Report
https://www.realtor.com/research/january-2026-data/ - Realtor.com Weekly Housing Market Trends – Week of January 31
https://www.realtor.com/research/weekly-housing-trends-view-data-week-january-31-2026/ - Realtor.com Luxury Housing Showdown: Charleston vs. Savannah
https://www.realtor.com/research/luxury-market-showdown-charleston-vs-savannah/ - Realtor.com Luxury Housing Showdown: Seattle vs. Boston https://www.realtor.com/research/luxury-market-showdown-boston-vs-seattle
- Commentary on Why Threats to Fed Independence Matter for the Economy and Mortgage Rates
https://www.realtor.com/research/fed-independence-mortgage-rates-powell-investigation/ - Commentary on Fed Nominee Kevin Warsh https://www.realtor.com/research/kevin-warsh-fed-nomination-mortgage-rates-housing/
- Commentary on 2025-Q4 Housing Vacancy & Homeownership
https://www.realtor.com/research/homeownership-q4-2025/ - Commentary on Mortgage Rates – February 5, 2026
https://www.realtor.com/research/freddie-mac-mortgage-rates-february-5-2026/
Housing data for download
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
- There’s been plenty of noise this week — a government shutdown, delayed data, and financial & political drama — but mortgage rates have remained remarkably steady. I’m Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com® to break down what I’m watching for as the spring housing market approaches.
- This week’s partial government shutdown has been resolved, but the January jobs data that should have been released Friday has been pushed back. We will have to wait for it. Indications from private data suggest that it could be a relatively weak report, but we’ll have another update before the Fed’s mid-March meeting, if data is released on schedule. Put simply, it’s an important input, but it won’t be the last word on the economy’s condition before the next Fed meeting.
- In the last week, President Trump nominated his successor to Jerome Powell’s Fed Chairmanship: Kevin Warsh. Although he served as a Fed Governor from 2006-2011, Warsh may face a drawn out confirmation process as some Senators have indicated that they do not want to move forward until investigations into Chair Powell, that are seen by some as a threat to the Fed’s monetary policy independence, have ended.
- Despite the political drama, mortgage rates were essentially unchanged, ticking up just 1 basis point. For the last 6 weeks, mortgage rates have hovered in a narrow 10 basis point range just above 6 percent, a favorable spot for aspiring homebuyers and sellers alike as the spring buying season approaches.
- In addition to decent mortgage news, we saw an uptick in the U.S. homeownership rate overall and for those under 35, even as the rate slipped for households in the 35 to 44 year range. This report also showed steady to slightly higher vacancy rates for both homeowners and renters, bringing back some much needed slack that is likely to stem price pressure in the housing market.
- Consistent with that, the number of for-sale homes rose for a 27th month in January according to the Realtor.com January Housing Trends report, however, the pace of recovery relative to pre-pandemic norms lost some steam. Newly listed homes changed little over the prior-year pace as listing prices flattened, a possible sign of more modest expectations from sellers. At the same time, data suggest a bit of a pickup in buyer activity, and the next few months will test whether the market remains balanced or shifts more meaningfully.
- Looking at Realtor.com weekly housing data the clearest trend is the impact of last week’s snowstorm. New listings dropped sharply as snow and ice, freezing conditions and power outages affected much of the nation. I expect to see a bounce back in the weeks ahead, but it’s worth keeping in mind that we could see similar storm-effects in the January closed sales data that NAR will soon report.
- Turning from a literal freeze to a metaphoric one, rents rose in New York City continuing a trend that helped usher in the Mamdani era according to the latest Realtor.com New York City Rental Report. Already, rent stabilized units mean New York renters are less likely to move, limiting mobility and dynamism in the housing market there; a freeze on further rent increases would likely exacerbate this trend.
- Finally, we have two very topical luxury market showdowns. The first report features a comparison of Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia markets full of Southern charm and historic architecture that have me dreaming about spring break. The second report examines high-end real estate in Super Bowl contenders Seattle and Boston highlighting surprising commonalities and differences. It may not help you predict who will win, but it could help you decide who to root for on Sunday if you’ve not already got a team.
- You can find all the details, including full reports and our housing data for download, at realtor.com/research. You can also follow us on X (formerly twitter) for real time updates. And instagram for graphics.
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